Anna Maria Island's resident golfers enjoy an easy commute to a wealth of fine courses in both Bradenton and Sarasota. Bradenton's courses garner regular awards from Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, thanks to world-famous architects, impeccably manicured greens, and state-of-the-art facilities. Sarasota gets similar critical raves, and boasts over 30 courses, from fine public facilities to upscale semi-private golf communities, and posh private clubs.

Bobby Jones Golf Complex
1000 Circus Boulevard, Sarasota
(941) 955-8097
www.bobbyjonesgolfclub.com

This municipal facility boasts two regulation eighteen hole courses and a nine hole executive course. The American Course, designed in 1963 by R. Albert Anderson, and redesigned by Ron Garl in 1988, is a tricky circuit with water and trees coming into play on most holes. The British Course is a bit more forgiving, but still shakes things up with a healthy serving of sand bunkers. Trivia fans relish the fact that in 1940 the British course hosted the longest playoff in PGA Tour history, between Otto Hackbarth and Jock Hutchinson.

Foxfire Golf Club
7200 Proctor Road, Sarasota
(941) 921-7757
www.foxfiregolfclub.com

Foxfire gets regular accolades as one of Florida's top public golf courses, and prides itself on its "member for a day" private club-style service and impeccably manicured grounds. Foxfire's three nine hole courses are played in three eighteen hole combinations, with an emphasis on challenging narrow fairways and small greens. Water hazards and trees come into play on numerous holes. Amenities include a full-service restaurant and lounge, and a comprehensive practice facility.

Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch
8255 Legacy Boulevard, Bradenton
(941) 907-7067
www.legacygolfclub.com

This award-winning Arnold Palmer-designed course, managed by Troon Golf, has quickly earned its reputation as one of the premier courses in Southwest Florida. The well-maintained 18-hole championship course features elevated multiple tees, and most holes are lined with sand and water. The 360-foot wide fairways on all corridors give the course a very dramatic look. Golf Digest lists the Legacy as one of its "Best Places to Play," and the readers of the magazine give it four-and-a-half stars.

Oak Ford Golf Club
1552 Palm View Road, Sarasota
(941) 371-3680
www.oakfordgolfclub.com

The Oak Ford slogan touts that the club is "a little out of the way, a lot out of the ordinary." Only 20 minutes from downtown Sarasota, the club is nestled in a 850-acre wildlife preserve. It winds through live oaks and grove lands, and attracts an abundance indigenous South Florida birds and beasts, including deer, boar, and bobcats. The courses offer seasoned and weekend players a challenge , with numerous water hazards, small greens, and narrow corridors.

The River Club
6600 River Club Boulevard, Bradenton
(941) 751-4211
www.riverclubgc.com

For the discriminating golfer who prefers a challenge, this Ron Garl-designed 18-hole championship course is as vexing as it is beautiful. Not your typical Florida course, the front nine has rolling fairways with plenty of mounding; the back nine winds through dense woods with undulating greens. This course was cut out of a jungle, creating a challenging environment for both the average and experienced player. The fairways are wide open tough, and the greens are undulating and putt true.

Waterlefe Golf & River Club
1022 Fish Hook Cove, Bradenton
(941) 744-9771
www.waterlefegolfandriverclub.com

Nestled on a beautiful section of the Manatee River, complete with wide expanses of pristine marshes, the Waterlefe features gently sloped greens and the newest Tiff Eagle Bermuda grass. Designed by Ted McAnlis, the course protects its surrounding natural environment, giving it a unique character. Don't be surprised if on the 15th tee you spot a family of manatees poking noses up for a breath of air. Five sets of trees for each hole allow golfers to customize their games, and the full-service grill and bar allow them to talk it all over at the end of the day.